Ball cleaning apparatus



Sept. 29, 1964 D. A. MOLANDER BALL CLEANING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Jan. 14, 1963 INVENTOR. DONALD A MOLANDER ditty.

Sept 9, 1964 D. A. MOLANDER BALL CLEANING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Jan. 14, 1963 ditty.

INVENTOR. DONALD A. MOLANDER Mada W. dQm mwm,

United States Patent 3,150,392 BALL CLEANING APPARATUS Donald A.Molander, Batavia, Ill., assignor to Pines Engineering Co., Inc.,Aurora, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Jan. 14, 1963, Ser. No.251,395 Claims. (Cl. 4)

The present invention relates to improvements in cleaning apparatus andmore particularly to the construction and assembly of an apparatus forcleaning and polishing bowling balls.

The apparatus, generally, is enclosed in a housing having an opening inits top wall into which a spherical member such as a bowling ball isplaced for cleaning. When so positioned, the ball rests upon rotatablespaced apart cleaning and polishing elements at least one of which ispower operated. The top wall of the housing mounts a brushing elementthat is movable from an ineffective position into place over and againstthe ball. The brushing element is normally urged into wiping engagementwith the ball by reason of its own weight. Preferably, the apparatus iscoin operated and to this end it includes a coin operated timer switchconnected in the electric circuit to the motor for driving one of thetwo cleaning elements. Also included in the electrical circuit is 'anormally open control switch that is closed only when a cover isarranged over the opening into which the ball has been placed. Inoperation, the cleaning, polishing and brushing elements cooperate tocause the ball to revolve on ditferent axes to insure that all surfacesof the ball are engaged and acted upon by the elements.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a novel apparatusof the character referred to.

Another object is to provide a ball cleaning apparatus with novelconstructions of cleaning, polishing and brushing elements.

Another object is to provide a ball cleaning and polishing apparatuswith a brushing element having a novel mounting and of novelconstruction.

The structure and means by which the above noted and other objects andadvantages of the invention are attained will be described in thefollowing specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, showing a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus showing the brushing elementin a position of non-use;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus with the top wall removed;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view of one corner assembly ofthe housing structure;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the top wall;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken substantially online 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the housing walls;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one 'of the brushing element mountingbrackets;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the brushing element; and,

FIG. 9 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the brushing elementmounting, taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 5.

Referring to the exemplary embodiment of the apparatus disclosed in theaccompanying drawings, the apparatus is enclosed in a novel housing 11,comprised of a bottom wall 12, upstanding outwardly inclined side walls13, and a removable top wall 14. The side walls 13, best shown in FIGS.3 and 6, each comprise a flat panel 15 flanged on its lower edge, as at16, for securement to the bottom wall, and internally flanged, as at 17,on its vertical side edges. The flanges 17 are disposed at an acuteangle, as shown, so as to receive therein the marginal edges of aPatented Sept. 29, 1964 liner 18 of sound insulation material. Whenassembled, adjacent flanges 17 are welded or otherwise secured together.

The top wall 14 preferably has hinge elements 19 on one of its edges forassociation with complemental hinge elements 21 on the upper edge of oneof the housing side walls so as to be hingedly connected to the housing.A suitable spring or key latch 22 may be provided at the opposed edge ofthe top wall for securing it in a closed position. It should beunderstood, however, that the top Wall is hinged for convenience inservicing but that it may be completely removable if so desired. Thespecific construction of the top wall and of elements mounted thereonwill be described in detail hereinafter.

A frame 23 preferably comprised of channel or angle bars, is secured tothe housing floor or bottom wall 12. This frame mounts the cleaning andpolishing elements and the drive means therefor, now to be described. Asbest shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the frame 23 mounts an electric motor 24having a shaft 25 on which is mounted firmly a thick buffing wheel 26.This buffing wheel may be of any suitable construction but preferably itis of laminated construction comprised of a series of fabric discs. Themotor 24 and bufiing wheel 26 are located to one side of the verticalcenter of the housing as shown.

A second butfing or support wheel 27 is mounted on an idler shaft 28journalled in bearings mounted on frame 23 and located to one side ofand parallel with the axis of butfing wheel 26. The butting wheel 27 isof greater length than wheel 26 and it is fabricated preferably of aseries of felt discs of graduated diameters, arranged as shown so as toprovide a concave or dished circumferential surface having its smallestdiameter at its center and in transverse alignment with bufiing wheel26. When a bowling ball 29 is positioned for cleaning and drmsing itrests on the perimeters of said Wheels 26, 27, as shown, and when motor24 is in operation, said ball will spin on dii'ferent axes in a mannerto insure that all of its surface is engaged by the bufling wheels. Theprecise reason for this spinning movement of the bowling ball has notbeen ascertained with certainty but is believed to result from the freefloating ball being more forcefully engaged at periodic intervals by oneor the other of the outwardly inclined surface areas of the concavebufiing element 27.

The apparatus is operated only when the top wall 14 is in closedposition. Accordingly, the top wall has an opening 31 therein of a sizeto receive the bowling ball therethrough loosely. The opening issurrounded by a soft cushion ring 32 so as to avoid marring the ball.

A brushing element 33 is carried by the top wall for movement out of theWay of the ball during insertion and removal of the ball and forengagement with the ball during machine operation. This brushingelement, best shown in FIGS. 1, 5, 8 and 9, comprises an arcuate metalstrap or band 34 terminating in straight end portions or legs 35.Secured to the inside face of the arcuate strap is a brush body 36having a plurality of groups of bristles 37 projecting from its exposedor concave face. The bristles preferably are of wire stock and thebristles of each group are ground or polished on their free ends toinsure a uniform contacting surface and one that is devoid of burrs orother objectionable characteristics which, if present, might tend toscratch or mar the bowling ball. In order to move the brush element intoand out of working position and to insure that when in working positionit will engage the ball by reason of its own Weight, it is mounted in anovel manner now to be described.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 5 and 7 to 9, the brushing element23 has its legs 35 pivotally and slidably connected one to each of apair of like mounting brackets 38 mounted on the top wall one on eachside of the ball bracket carries on its upper end a pin 42 that projects7 from one face thereof and the bracket is formed in the area below saidpin with a'vertically aligned slot 43 that .m'erg es at its upper endwith an arcuate slotportion 44 having its'cente'r on pin 42. Each leg 35of brushingelement '33 is longitudinally slotted, as at 45, and eachmounts a rigid pin 46 adjacent to its lower free end. When assembledwith ajbracket 38 (FIG. 9) the leg pin 46 rides in bracket slot 43 andthe bracket pm 42 rides in leg slot4 5. it should be apparent from theforegoingthat the brushing element can be elevated andthen tiltedintoahorizontal position (FIG. 1) by reason of the arcuate slot portion 44and that when in a vertical position (FIG. 5 it will rest by reason ofits own weight upon 1 the surface of a ball positioned in the top wallopening 31. This brushing element functions to remove foreign "matter"from the ball surface during the butfing operation performed by boilingwheels 26, 27.

In order to control operation of the apparatus it is' preferred toprovide a coin controlled timer'switch assemb'ly 4? in the electriccircuit to the motor and also to provide'a safety switch 43 in saidcircuit which is closed only when a safety cover 49 is swung into itsclosed position over the ball opening 31. Also, if desired, a series ofupstandingpins -51 (FIG. 1) maybe provided on the top surface of thehousing top wall to afford a seat in which a bowling ball may be rested.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of .my-invention, inconsiderable detail, it will be understood that 'thedescription thereofis intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many detailsof the structure 'disclosedmay b'e' modified or changed without"departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordinglyyl donot desire to be restricted'to the exact construction described. i

What I claim and desire 'to'secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is: V '1. In an apparatus of the character described, a housingincl uding a top wallhaving an, opening therein to receivea'spherical-element, a pair of buffer wheels mounted in said housingbeneath said opening, said wheels being rotatable on parallel axesspaced apart side by side and being adapted to support the sphericalelement on their peripheral surfaces, and a brushing element pivotallyand slidably mounted over and bridging said opening, said brushingelementbeing adaptedto rest upon 'said spherical element. I

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a housing including a topwall, said top wall having an opening to receive .a spherical elementtherein, a plurality of but-ling wheels in saidhousing beneath saidopening and upon which thesph'erical element rests, brackets on said topwall one on each of two diametrically Opposed sides of said opening, abrushing elementbridging said brackets and having'a slidable pivotalconnection therewith for movement into and out of a position bridgingthe opening.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a housing inciudiru atopwall, said top wall havin an'opening to receive a spherical elementtherein, a pair of buffing wheels spaced apart beneath said opening andupon which the spherical element rests, brackets on said top wallone oneach of two diametrically opposedsides of said opening, a brushingelement bridging said bracketnand slidable pivotal connections joiningsaid'brushing element to said brackets for movementof the "brushingelement into and out of a position bridging the opening.

4. in the apparatus recited in claim 3, in which the brushing element iscurved longitudinally and has parallel legs on its ends connected tosaid brackets.

5. In the apparatus recited in claim 3, in which the slidable pivotalconnect-ion consistsof inte'rengaged pins and slots on the bracket andon the brushing element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,971,3-38 Gabler et a1. a Aug. 21, 1934 2,195,393 Haskins Mar. 26, 19402,321,777 Schelhammer et a1 June 15, 1943 2,323,297 Collins July .6,1943 2,338,547 Sheldon Jan. 4, 1944 2,469,943 Bune Mar. 10, 19 492,572,464- Freitas Oct.'23, ,1-951 2,656,557 Vargo Oct..27, 19532,980,935 Bogard et a1; Apr..25, 196-1 -3;012,334 Davis .'Dcc. 12, 19613,040,360 Friedman June .26, 1962 3,072,936 McCormick Jan. 15, 19633,077,623 Samson Feb. 19, 1963 3,986,233 Knott Apr. 23, 1963 FOREIGNPATENTS 15,194 .Sweden of 1902

1. IN AN APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, A HOUSING INCLUDING A TOP WALL HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN TO RECEIVE A SPHERICAL ELEMENT, A PAIR OF BUFFER WHEELS MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING BENEATH SAID OPENING, SAID WHEELS BEING ROTATABLE ON PARALLEL AXES SPACED APART SIDE BY SIDE AND BEING ADAPTED TO SUPPORT THE SPHERICAL ELEMENT ON THEIR 